Advice for a newbie on families first trip

[Tapestry]

Hi

In addition to the advice already given:

check that all locker doors, wardrobe, fridge & toilet doors are closed and secure, caravan door, ourdoor front locker and battery box doors are locked.

Ensure that there is nothing that can role around in the van while moving eg aqua roll

Don't forget a wheel clamp - its essential on our insurance policy for the van

Outdoor chairs and table for adults & kids, BBQ

Mallet for use on awning pegs and windbreak

Sleeping bags/ duvets, pillows, sheets, towels, clothes etc

Things to keep the kids amused on long journeys and in the van / on holiday - in car DVD players work a treat for our 3 kids for part of the journey. They have always had their own small rucksack in the back of the car with things to keep them amused -9 years later they still have them - their choice.

Get the kids to help with little jobs when you arrive and before you gur youngest was 2 1/2 years old when he started to help get water with his dad on site.

Hope this helps

 

[Guy]

Hi

In addition to the advice already given:

check that all locker doors, wardrobe, fridge & toilet doors are closed and secure, caravan door, ourdoor front locker and battery box doors are locked.

Ensure that there is nothing that can role around in the van while moving eg aqua roll

Don't forget a wheel clamp - its essential on our insurance policy for the van

Outdoor chairs and table for adults & kids, BBQ

Mallet for use on awning pegs and windbreak

Sleeping bags/ duvets, pillows, sheets, towels, clothes etc

Things to keep the kids amused on long journeys and in the van / on holiday - in car DVD players work a treat for our 3 kids for part of the journey. They have always had their own small rucksack in the back of the car with things to keep them amused -9 years later they still have them - their choice.

Get the kids to help with little jobs when you arrive and before you gur youngest was 2 1/2 years old when he started to help get water with his dad on site.

Hope this helps

Tapestry,many thanks for taking the time to reply and the excellent suggestions...will definitely put the advice to good use.

 

[HerinDoors]

When we first picked up our brand new van, we towed it to a site a few miles away for a weekend. as we had owned an older van things were not new to us. We hooked up, sorted the water, and started to try things out on it. All working ok, untill it came to the bathroom lights. All the other lights in our van switch on at the light, we did this in the bathroom... nothing! We looked at the other lights, all were the same, so tried again, nothing. After half an hour of fiddling around we eventually rang the dealer. He asked us to hold on, and ran out to another van to check. He came back laughing, and told us to look at the side of the sink cabinet for a switch. Hey presto we had light, and two very red faces!!! Have fun in your new van xx Julia

 

[Tapestry]

Hi

Another thought

We had a whole load of information leaflets about anything and everything conected to the van in like a plastic briefcase when we bought our Bailey Pageant Bretangue. We still carry it in our van as a resource.

Its worth writing a list (on a computer) of what you need to take and tick it off as you pack it before going away. We do this for each trip. Our van is kept in storage so although we keep some things in the van as standard - we still double check.The day we picked up our Bretangue we had already booked to go away for the weekend before deciding to change our van, despite our best efforts we managed to leave our daughter's sleeping bag at home. The nearest place selling sleeping bags was the dealer we bought the van from.

If you are travelling with small kids I think its worth carrying a spare sleeping bag/duvet just in case a child is ill in the night - we've had this happen- we always carry a spare lightweight sleeping bag. we also carry a good first aid / medical kit which contains in addition to first aid, childrens pain killer medicine, anti histamine etc. Easier to carry it with you than try to find somewhere selling it in unfamiliar places when a child is ill.

If you stop on the services - the advice is not to leave the car & caravan unattended - this has been mentioned on this forum in the past - we split up and take it in turns.

Hope this is of some help. Enjoy the experience

 

[Guy]

Hi

Another thought

We had a whole load of information leaflets about anything and everything conected to the van in like a plastic briefcase when we bought our Bailey Pageant Bretangue. We still carry it in our van as a resource.

Its worth writing a list (on a computer) of what you need to take and tick it off as you pack it before going away. We do this for each trip. Our van is kept in storage so although we keep some things in the van as standard - we still double check.The day we picked up our Bretangue we had already booked to go away for the weekend before deciding to change our van, despite our best efforts we managed to leave our daughter's sleeping bag at home. The nearest place selling sleeping bags was the dealer we bought the van from.

If you are travelling with small kids I think its worth carrying a spare sleeping bag/duvet just in case a child is ill in the night - we've had this happen- we always carry a spare lightweight sleeping bag. we also carry a good first aid / medical kit which contains in addition to first aid, childrens pain killer medicine, anti histamine etc. Easier to carry it with you than try to find somewhere selling it in unfamiliar places when a child is ill.

If you stop on the services - the advice is not to leave the car & caravan unattended - this has been mentioned on this forum in the past - we split up and take it in turns.

Hope this is of some help. Enjoy the experience

Many thanks for taking the time to give us some really good advice. Much appreciated...added to the list